BV 

1427! 

•B4 

1893 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

(Uptp, @optj|Mti !fu, 

UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 



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LIVING LEAVES 
FOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR 



LIVING LEAVES 



FOR 



CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR 

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i*?0CT 18 1893J 

The life of the leaf is in the Living Word upon it. V^/*.. 

BOSTON 7 ^/^ 

D. LOTHROP COMPANY 
1893 






Copyright, 1893, 

BY 

D. Lothkop Company, 



For the Word of God is living and pow- 
erful; ... . . and is a discerner of the 
thoughts and intents of the heart. 

Heb. iv : 12. 



^\th 3e 



Young People's Society 

OF 

Christian Endeavor, 



Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I prom- 
ise 'Him that I will strive to do whatever He would like to 
have me do ; that I will pray to Him, and read the Bible 
every day, and that, just so far as I know how, through- 
out my whole life, I will try to live a Christian life. 



" The dew of our youth, even the morning of our days, 
ought to be consecrated to our Lord Jesus. Were not our 
lives given us by IJini. and shall we not use them in His 
service?" 



'Never empty in returning 

Is Thine own most precious Word ; 
Hay these texts in hearts be "burning" 

Guiding them to Thee, our Lord. 



These texts have been arranged especially for the thou- 
sands of young folks who belong to the Young People'* 
Society of Christian Endeavor. Yet they are equally ap- 
propriate for all, old and young, who are endeavoring to 
know and serve the Lord ; those who are pressing forward 
" toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God 
in Christ Jesus." 

Some one has said that in every verse in the Bible 
there may be found a royal road to Christ; and these few- 
selections (each leaf of which presents a different thought 
for endeavor) are intended as way-marks, all leading 
toward Him. 

S. E. B. 



Earnest, constant in endeavor — 
Willing service let us give ; 

Reaching after God, and ever 
Drawing nearer while we live. 



CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

How significant the name! how bright and good! and 
I hope each one of you will honor it, by endeavoring to 
be Christlike. 

To " endeavor" means more than making one trial or 
many attempts; it means continued effort, — in joy or 
sorrow; health or sickness ; business or repose; alone or 
in company; Sundays or weekdays; it means " forgetting 
the things which are behind " and reaching forward toward 
Christ and His service continually until the end of life. 

Head Joshua xxiv. 1, also verses 14-25, and 2 Kings 
xxiii. 1-3 and see if you do not think they held Endeavor 
meetings hundreds of years ago ! 

And may God's Spirit witness with yours that you are 
endeavoring to " stand " to your pledge. 



The heart is the very inmost self, the deepest depth of 
our being; hidden from our fellows, little known to our- 
selves, yet " naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with 
whom we have to do." 

If His searching eye finds there hatred of sin, true love 
to Himself, and a disposition to do His will, then we are 
truly Christians. 



I WILL ENDEA VOR TO 

Be a true Christian. 

Ye must be born again. John iii. 7. 




Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creat- 
ure; old things are passed away; behold all things are 
become new. 2 Con. v. 17. 



" My hope is built on nothing less 
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; 
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, 
But wholly lean on Jesus' name, 
On Christ the solid Rock 1 stand — 
All other ground is sinking sand." 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 



Build on the sure foundation. 




m 

Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth 
them I will liken him unto a wise man which built his 
house upon a rock : and the rain descended, and the floods 
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house : and 
it fell not : for it was founded upon a rock. 

Matt. vii. 24, 25. 



Nothing but perfect truth and holiness can stand in 
the presence of God's holiness ! 

How, then, and with what shall we build, that our work 
may abide? 



1 WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Build with material that will abide the test. 




Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the 
day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire ; 
the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 

1 Cor. iii. 13. 



Not only is all outward sin to be " put off," but every- 
thing that is wrong within. Every thought and every 
purpose, although it be so secret that we are scarcely 
conscious of it ourselves, is noted by God's omniscient eye. 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 



Put off all wrong doing. 




Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the 
old man with his deeds. 

Col. iii. 9. 



But now ye also put off all these ; anger, wrath, malice, 
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 

Col. iii. 8. 



The new man loves to please his Gocl, 
And puts on every Christian grace ; 
Would gladly follow where He trod, — 
And imitates His righteousness. 



1 WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Put on likeness to Christ. 

Put on the new man, which after God is created in 
righteousness and true holiness. 

Eph. iv. 24, 

Put on therefore . . bowels of mercies, kindness, 
humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering; forbear- 
ing one another, forgiving one another. 

Col. iii. 12, 13. 




" Who that one moment, has the least descried Him 

Faintly and dimly, hidden and afar, 
Doth not despise all excellence, beside Him, 

Pleasures and powers that are not and that are." 



1 WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Set my affections on things above. 

. . . Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where 
thieves do not break through nor steaL 

Matt. vi. 20. 




. . . For where your treasure is, there will your heart 
be also. 

Matt. vi. 21. 



The way to God is always upward, and always before us. 



1 WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Go onward and upward. 

. . . Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which 

doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the 

race that is set before us. 

Heb. xii. I. 




. . . This one thing I do, forgetting those things 
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things- 
which are before, I press toward the mark. 

Phil. iii. 13, 1-k 



" Strong, in the Lord of Hosts, 
And in His mighty power ; 
The man who in the Saviour trusts 
Is more than conqueror/' 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Look to Jesus for strength. 

. . . Without me ye can do nothing. 

John xv. 5. 

, . ■. In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. 

Is. xxvi. 4. 
. . . My strength is made perfect in weakness. 

2 Cor. xii. 9. 




" He nothing knows, who knows not this, 
That earth can yield no settled bliss, 

No lasting portion give ; 
He all things knows, who knows to place 
His hopes on Christ's redeeming grace, 

Who died that we might live." 



1 WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Seek true wisdom. 

Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of 

God. 

1 Cor. i. 24. 




If any of yon lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who 
giveth to all men liberally, and npbraicleth not ; and it 
shall be given him. 



James i. 5. 



God leadeth us, in places safe, 

Nor heeds the lengthened ways ; 
While we, no danger seeing, chafe 

And wonder at delays. 
Why do we ? when our hearts should know 

How tenderly He loves ; 
And that each step through " weal or woe," 

His " loving kindness " proves. 



I WILL ENDEAVOR JO 

Bemember that God, in Christ, keeps His promises. 

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and 

precious promises. 

2 Peter i. 4. 




. . Not one thing hath failed of all the good things 
which the Lord your God spake concerning you. 

Josh, xxiii. 14. 



" Our wisest plans fail on the morrow, 
Or, succeeding, bring us sorrow ; 

Incomplete is all our bliss. 
Faith in Christ alone relieves us, 
We may trust, He ne'er deceives us, 

And that trust brings perfect peace." 



1 WILL ENDEAVO R_TO 

Believe that God knows best. 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart ; and lean not unto 
thine own understanding. 

Pnov. iii. 5. 

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are ray 
ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your 

thoughts. 

Isa. Iv. 9. 




Were a letter sent from Heaven 
Bearing on it your own name ; 

God-indited — by Him given — 
Would it not be sin and shame, 

If you failed to study well 

All the truth that He would tell ? 
— Study then His word. 



M/ViLL END EAVOR TO 

Study the Bible. 

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have 
eternal life : and they are they which testify of me. 

Jota v. 39. 




These were more noble than those, . . . in that 
they received the word with all readiness of mind, and 
searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were 

so. . 

Acts xvn. 11. 



A young Christian was nearing death. He had for a 
longtime taken very little food. In reply to an expres- 
sion of sympathy from his pastor, he said, " I feed upon 
His Word." 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Feed upon the Word. 

. . . Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every 
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. I 

Matt. iv. 4. 




Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not 
bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? 
. . . Eat ye that which is good, and let your soul de- 



light itself in fatness. 



Isa. Iv. 2. 



The source of this upspringing well is always full; why 
then should we go away thirsty, when we are bidden to 
take freely? 

A preacher once said that this half -satisfied way of liv- 
ing was like dwelling on the shore of Lake Ontario, and 
yet going thirsty ; or like dipping the water into a howl 
for a bath, instead of plunging into its waters. 



1 WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Accept God as my Leader, and trust Him. 

I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee 

to profit; which leadeth thee, by the way that thou 

shouldest go. 

Isa. xlviii. 17. 




. . . God led them not through the way of the land 
of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, 
Lest peradventure, the people repent when they see war; 
— but God led the people about, through the way of the 

wilderness of the Red Sea. 

Ex. xiii. 17, IS. 



Our dim perceptions scarcely catch a glimpse 
Of the great truths, that, folded in His Word 
Await eternal years for perfect, full 
Development. Yet, blessed Teacher, come 
And dwell within, drive from our wayward hearts 
All sinful ignorance, and strengthen Thou 
Our mental vision, that, perceiving soon 
And gladly learning, we may understand 
All that Thou would' st to us unfold. 



I WILL E NDE AVOR TO 

Ask for the Holy Spirit'* teaching. 

If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto 
your children; how much more shall your Heavenly 
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? 

Luke xi. 13. 




. . . He shall teach you all things, and bring all 
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto 
you. 

Jn. xiv. 20. 



Just to ask Him what to do, 

Every clay, 
And to make you quids: and true 

To obey. . . 
Just to take thy orders straight 

From the Master's own command. 
Blessed day ! when thus we wait 
Always at our Sovereign's hand. 

F. lv. Havergal. 



i WILL ENDEAVOR TO 



Be obedient to my Master. 



One is your Master, even Christ. 

Matt, xxiii. 10. 




Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants 
to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey ? 

llOMANS'vi. 16. 



Await His will; when it unfolds 
'Twill show the riches that it holds. 
Tn trial ever patient he — 
Resting in faith, — waiting to see. 



1 WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Be patient. 

... Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have 
done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 

Heb. x. 3G. 




But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be 
perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

James i. 4. 



This is a hard lesson, and can only be learned in the 
school of Christ, and with the most of us, the page has to 
be often " turned." 

Miss Havergal says : 

" And let our hearts ' be still,' 

Though our task is turned to-day ; 

let Him teach us what He will 
In His own gracious way : 

Till sitting only at Jesus' feet 
As we learn each line 

The hardest is found all clear and sweet. * 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 



Be contented. 




. . . I have learned, in whatsoever state T am, there- 
with to be content. 

Phil. iv. 11. 



Precious, precious blood of Jesus, 

Shed on Calvary ; 
Shed for rebels, shed for sinners, 

Shed for me. 

Though thy sins are red like crimson, 

Deep in scarlet glow, 
Jesus' precious blood can make them 

White as snow. 

If. 11. Havergal. 



I WILL ENDEAV OR TO 



Think often of what Christ has done for me. 

. The soul that sinneth it shall die. 

Eze. xviii. 4~ 

. Without shedding of blood is no remission. 

Heb. ix. 22. 




Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins im 
His own blood, ... to Him be glory and dominion 

forever and ever. Amen. 

Rev. i. 5, 6. 



;i His love is constant as the sun. 
Though clouds oft come between ; 

And could our faith but pierce those clouds, 
He might be always seen." 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Remember His wonderful lore. 

. . . God so loved the world, that He gave His only 
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should 
not perish, but have everlasting life. 

John iii. 10. 




Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved 
us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sius. 

1 John iv. 10. 



Prayer " according to His will," 

Cannot but be answering heard; 
God will grand designs fulfil . • 
Purposes of His wise will, 

While thus faithful to His Word. 



1 WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Expect answers to prayer. 

Verily, verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask 
the Father in my name, He will give it to you. 

John xvi. 23. 




. . . If we ask anything according to His will, He 
heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever 
we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we de- 
sired of Him. 

1 John v. 14, 15. 



11 All that He hatli spoken. 
He will surely do ! 

Nothing- shall be broken, 
Eveiy word is true." 



f WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Drink of the water of life. 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. 

Isa. lv. 1. 




. . . Whosoever clrinketh of the water that I shall 
give him shall never thirst; but the water that 1 shall 
give him shall be in him a well of water springing up 
into everlasting life. 

John iv. 14. 



Most of us would like to be becomingly dressed and de- 
sire that our garments be perfect-fitting, graceful in drap- 
ery, and of such texture and shade of color as pleases us. 
. . . These .texts refer to a dress which perfectly fits 
all who wear it, is of the purest color, always becoming, 
and is more beautiful than that of the bride adorned with 
her jewels. It is the "best robe " the Lord could make, 
and will cover all our " filthy rags " so completely that we 
shall be " fair " in His sight. 



I WILL END EAVOR TO 

Wear white raiment. 

I counsel thee to buy of me . . . white' raiment,, 
that thou mayest be clothed. 

Rev. iii. 18. 

. . .My soul shall be joyful in my God, for He hatli 
clothed me with the garments of salvation; He hath cov- 
ered me with the robe of righteousness. 

Isa. Ixi. 10. 




I would be beautiful to Thee, 

My ever gracious King ; — 
Yet nothing but deformity 

And wretchedness can bring. 
O, open now Thy stores of grace, 

Thy beauty put on me, 
Enfold me in Thy righteousness — 

Then, I'll be "fair " to Thee I 



1 WILL E ND EAVOR TO 

Seek inward adorning. 

. . . The Lord seeth not as man seeth ; for man look' 
eth on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the 
heart. 

1 Sam. xv i. 7. 

Whose adorning . . . let it be the hidden man of 
the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the orna- 
ment of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of 
God of great price. 

1 Peter iii. a, 4. 




" Be up and be doing," " from sun to sun," 
Let the business be something that ought to be done, 
It will keep from wrong doing and help you to live ; 
Or else, will provide you with something to give 
To the poor and the needy, the sick, or the lame — 
And this will bring blessing, if done t; \\\ His name." 



I WI LL ENDEAVOR TO 

Be diligent in business. 




. . . Study . . . to do your own business, and 
to work with your own hands, ... that ye may walk 
honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may 
have lack of nothing. 

1 Thess. iv. 11, 12. 



It is not the money which is " the root of all evil " but 
the intense love of it ; the grasping desire to acquire and 
possess it, at whatever cost to ourselves; and without 
proper regard for the rights of others. 

He, who knew the " deceitfulness of riches,'- bids us 
" take heed, and beware." 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Avoid covet ousness. 

Take heed and beware of covetousness : for a man's life 
consisteth not in the abundance of the things which h<3 
possesseth. 

Luke xii. 15. 




man of God, flee these things. 

1 Tim. vi. 11. 



As a madman, who castetli firebrands, arrows, and 
death, So is the man that deceive th his neighbor, and 
saith, Am not I in sport ? 

Solomon. 

" Think before yon speak." 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Avoid evil speaking. 
If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect 
man. ■ 

James iii. 2. 




Let the words of my month, and the meditation of my 

heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, Lord, my strength, 

and my Redeemer. 

Ps. xix. 14. 



"" Quiet in God, the ever-present seal 

Of faith unspoken! 
Believing faces — infant lips, reveal 

The nameless token." 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Be quiet. 

. . . The effect of righteousness (shall be) quietness 
and assurance forever. 

Isa, xxxii. 17. 




In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. 

ISA. XXX. 15. 



Stay not like folded bud, enclosing all 
Your sweets within yourself, until the blast 
Of selfishness binds you so tightly round 
That 'tis impossible to burst the.bonds ; 
And you, slow with/ring, die, with half your life 
All cramped and useless. 



1 WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Be unselfish. 

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men 
should do to you, do ye even so to them. 

Matt. vii. 12. 




. . . In lowliness of mind let each esteem other 
better than themselves. 

Phil. ii. 3. 



Leave God to order all thy ways 
And hope in Him, whate'er betide ; 

Thou'lt iind Him in the evil days, 
An all-sufficient strength and guide. 

Who trusts in God's unchanging love, 

Builds on the rock that naught can move. 

George Neumark. 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Guard against over-anxiety. 

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat ?' 
or What shall we drink ? or Wherewithal shall we be 
clothed ? . . . For your Heavenly Father knoweth that, 
ye have need of all these things. 

Matt. vi. 31, 32. 




Be careful for nothing ; but in everything by prayer and 
supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made 
known unto God. 

Phil. iv. 6. 



** Nearer my God to Thee, 

Nearer to Thee, 
E'en though it be a cross 

That raiseth me." 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Live near to God. 




The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to 
all that call upon Him in truth. 

Psalm cxlv. 18. 



All our springs of comfort flow, 

JForth from Thee the living source ; 

Every tiny joy we know? 

All abundant overflow, 

Draws from Thee its kindly force, 

Grateful, thankful, let us be, 

And ascribe all praise to Thee. 



1 WILL ENDE AV OR TO 

Look to God for comfort. 

In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good 
cheer; I have overcome the world. 

John xvi. 33. 




. . The God of all comfort: . . . Who com- 
.»<»rteth us in all our tribulation. 

2 Cor. i. 3, 4. 



Hearts are aching for kind words, 

Which your lips may speak ; 
Minds are waiting for some thought 

You to them may take. 
Sick ones wait for kindly deed 

Which your hands may do ; 
Comfort give, that you would need 

Were each sufferer you. 
Has God given to your heart 

Comfort from His Word ? 
Quickly then the joy impart, 

It will please your Lord. 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Comfort others. 

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

IThkss. iv. 18. 




. . . That we may be able to comfort them which are 
in any trouble, by the .comfort wherewith we ourselves 
are comforted of God. 

2 Cor. i. 4. 



How tenderly familiar ! that He calls us by name, and 
gives us, 

44 # . . the pure white stone 
And in the stone a secret name ; 
A strange new name : and no two stones 
Shall bear inscription quite the same/' 



1 WILL END EA VOR TO 

Bemember that Be calls me by name. 

. . . Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have 
called thee by thy name ; thou art mine. 

Isaiah xliii. 1. 




To him that overcometh, will I give ... a white 
stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man 
knoweth, saving he that receiveth it. 

Rev. ii. 17. 



Our foes are many and powerful, although unseen by 
us, and we are weak and helpless ; yet God has provided 
a complete armor, which if " put on," and worn according 
to His directions, will render us invincible. 



1 WILL E N D EA VO R TO 

Put on the Christian armor. 

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to 
stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Eph. vi. 11. * 



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Praying always with all prayer and .supplication in the 
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance. 

Eph. vi. 14-18. 



. . . The joy will be most sweet 
Because most natural. To see Him there 
Xo know and love Him, and His image bear, 
Will make it homelike. Though the golden street 
Were more than golden, yet it still would be 
The " Father's house " and nothing else to thee. 

Lucy A. Bennett. 

From " Heavenward." 



i WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Look homeward. 

. . . We have a building of God, a house not made 
with hands, eternal in the heavens. 

2 Cor. v. I. 




Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given me, 
be with me where I am : that they may behold my glory 
which Thou hast given me. 

John xvii. 24. 



'Tis easy praising God when everything moves accord 
ing to our wishes ; . . . let us so trust Him, as to 
glorify Him by praise, even amid " the fires " of affliction. 



j WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Praise the Lord. 

. . . Praise the name of the Lord: for His name 
alone is excellent. 

Ps. cxlviii. 13. 




Sing unto the Lord a new song*, and His praise in the 

Ps. cxlix. 1. 



" Rejoice in the Lord." 

Rejoice that He is; rejoice that He is perfect 
in all His ways; and most of all, rejoice that He has pro- 
vided a Way, by which sinners may be brought back to 
Him, and enjoy Him, now, and forever. 

" Again I say, rejoice." 



I WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Rejoice in the Lord. 

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might 
remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 

John xv. 11. 




. . . In whom though now ye see Him not, yet be- 
lieving, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. 

1 Peter i.8. 



" Hold on, my heart, in thy believing! 
The steadfast only wins the crown. 
He who, when stormy waves are heaving, 
Parts with his anchor shall go down ; 
But he who Jesus holds through all 
Shall stand, though heaven and earth should fall.' 



\ WILL ENDEAVOR TO 

Persevere in endeavor. 

If ye- continue in my word, then are ye my disciples 
indeed. 

John viii. 31. 




. . . Let us not be weary in well-doing ; for in due- 
season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

Gal. vi. 9.. 



Let me so close abide in Thee, 
That there no obstacle shall be 

Between my heart and Thine ; 
And let, through all my heart-veins, flow 
That which shall make me fruitful grow - 

The living sap Divine ! 
While drawing thus all power from Thee 
Worthless myself, yet rich I'll be ! 
O may I thus in Thee abide, 
And Thou in me be glorified. 



1 WtLL END EAVOR TO 



Bear much fruit. 

Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit : 
so shall ye be my disciples. 

John xv. 8. 




The fruit of the Spirit. 



Gal. v. 22, 23. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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